The head of Israel’s National Intelligence Service It is being warned that Iran, ISIS and other jihadist actors remain determined to attack Jews worldwide, as top intelligence officials sound the alarm about a sharp increase in terrorism globally.
Days after the Hanukkah massacre in Australia, Mossad Director David Barnea said Israel’s spy agency would “find those who sent them wherever they flee, and we will hold them accountable,” adding that “justice will be done and justice will be seen.”
Barnea said the attack in Sydney reflects a broader and ongoing threat. “The criminal idea of terrorism targeting innocent civilians remains a cornerstone of the current Iranian regime’s security strategy,” he said. He warned that “jihadist elements, ISIS and others, have also decided to attack every Jew in the world.”
“Our hearts are with the families of the Australian victims,” Barnea said. He added that the purpose of such attacks is to break Jewish resilience, but emphasized: “Our spirit will not be broken. We will continue to celebrate our holidays and live our lives in Israel and around the world.”
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David Barnea, the head of Israel’s Mossad, vowed to relentlessly pursue those responsible for the deadly terror attack on Bondi Beach in Australia. Amir Cohen/Reuters (Amir Cohen/Reuters)
The comments came as Australian and international authorities continue to investigate the case attack on a Hanukkah celebration at Bondi Beach, killing 15 people and injuring dozens of others. Australian officials have said the gunmen were inspired by Islamic State ideology and that homemade ISIS banners were found in their vehicle.
A masked Islamic State terrorist poses with the ISIS flag in 2015. (Photos from History/Universal Images Group via Getty Images)
“Today it’s ISIS. Tomorrow it’s Iran,” said a senior Israeli intelligence official, describing a threat environment in which multiple extremist actors operate in parallel and often overlapping arenas.
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People take part in a floral tribute outside Bondi Pavilion on Bondi Beach in Sydney, Thursday, December 18, 2025. (AP Photo/Steve Markham)
The official added that Israeli intelligence has identified or disrupted similar activities in Europe, Africa and Asia, including alleged plots involving GermanyAustria, South America, India and Thailand. “If you knew how many terror attacks Mossad has prevented, your jaw would drop,” the source said.
Barnea also warned that Iran’s use of terrorism is inextricably linked to its broader strategic ambitions, including those of Iran nuclear program. He said that Tehran will “sprint towards nuclear weapons as soon as it is able to do so,” and that “the idea of developing an atomic bomb is still alive in their hearts.”
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File: A French riot police officer (CRS) stands guard outside the Paris synagogue, two days after security measures were strengthened near Jewish temples and schools in central Paris, on October 9, 2023. (Julien De Rosa/AFP via Getty Images)
Barnea said Israel has a responsibility to ensure that Iran’s nuclear project, which he said has been seriously damaged by close cooperation with the United States, is never revived.
As the investigation continues in Australia, Israeli intelligence officials say the Bondi Beach attack fits into a broader global pattern of terrorism, driven by both Iranian-backed networks and jihadist ideology, reinforcing Barnea’s warning that the threat remains active, adaptive and global.
